Fabric drawing-off mechanism for knitting machines



1 April 1942. T. c. BROMLEY ETAL 2,230,472 I FABRIC DRAWING-OFFMECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 2, 1940 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig. 2.

Attorney p l 1942- T. c. BROMLEY ETAL 2,280,472

FABRIC DRAWING-OFF MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 2, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6.

l 42 O! l/ 6 5:

Attomeg) the said rollers. been geared together at one or each end andone :35 roller has been driven by cam actuated pawl and 3.

Patented Apr. 21, 1942 PATENT OFFICE FABRIC DRAWING-OFF MECHANISM FORKNITTING MACHINES Thomas Charles Bromley and Arthur Shortland,

Leicester, England Application December 2 1940, Serial No. 368,266 InGreat Britain November 8, 1939 I 15 Claims.

Fabric drawing-off mechanisms are employed in knitting machines for thepurpose of putting tension on the knitted fabric to facilitate castingof knitted loops off the needles, and pulling the fabric away from theneedles.

ing-ofi mechanism 'of the form employed, more particularly, in circularknitting machines and 7 comprising a pair of rollers between whichthefabric is gripped and by appropriate rotation of mechanism whereby thefabric is Wound up after leaving the rollers.

In mechanism of this form one or each of the rollers is carried bybearings fitted slidably in slots or guides in a bracket or likecarrier, and

other, e. g. 'by spring means, in order to maintain the grip on thefabric which passes between Heretofore the rollers have ratchetmechanism or through the medium of worm or equivalent gearing, suitablydriven.

It frequently happens with drawing-off mechanism of this particular formthat due to varying m thickness of the fabric such as is occasioned byEli";- the presence of pouches or like formations at intervals, as forexample heel and toe pouches in seamless hosiery, the rollers are forcedapart to such an extent as to purpose.

Y The present invention comprises an improved drawing-off mechanism oftheform concerned 40 to obviate the aforesaid;

theobject of which is disadvantage.

According'to this invention the rollers of the drawing-ofimechanism arenot geared together but are entirely separate and driven independentlyso that in the event of them being forced:

apart abnormally the rollers are still driven and continue to functionnormally.

By the expression driven' independently is meant that the rollers areboth actually driven 7 by the driving means, in contra-distinction to anarrangement wherein one only of the rollers is so driven and arranged totransmit the drive to the other roller through the medium of gearmg.That is to say, in the improved mechanism 10 which the requisite pull isexerted on the fabric. 1

5 quality,

20 the roller or each roller is pressed towards the put them partly orwholly so out of gear so that they either function imper- (01. 66-153) ti neither of the rollers depends for its motion upon or member, or therollers may be driven by respectively different independently operateddriving parts or members. r

In conjunction with the improved roller driving 'means there may .beprovided means whereby the rate at which the gripping rollers are drivencan be variedfinfinitesimally within a predetermined limits "accordingto the rate at which fabric is to be produced, and/or the as regardsstiffness or slackness, to be produced, the said last mentioned meansbeing, for example, of the general character described inth'specification of our prior United States Letters Patent No.1,956,638.

Specific constructional forms of the improved fabric drawing-offmechanism applicable to a circular hosiery machine of the rotarycylinder type will now be described, by way of example.

In the accompanyingpurely diagrammatic drawings,

Figure. 1 is a plan view mechanism,

- Figure 2 is a part sectional end View of the same as seen in thedirection of the arrow A in rollers and ratchet mechanism for operatingthe same,

Figure 3 is a'longitudinal sectional view of said mechanism, partly inoutside elevation, taken'on the line III-III of Figure 2;,

' Figures 4 and 5are' views similar to Figures 2 and 3 respectivelyillustrating a modified form of ratchet mechanism, I

Figure 6' is a plan'view of the improved drawing-off mechanism modifiedto include means for varying. the rate at which the rollers are drivenas hereinbefore alluded to, and

Figure 7 is an. end view thereofpartly in section.

Like parts are designated by; similar reference characters throughoutthe drawings,

For the information of the, reader it ought to be explained that none ofthe figures of the drawings are intendedto be complete in so far as onlysuch parts are shown as are necessary for a clear understanding of theconstructions concerned.

The drawing-off mechanism shown in Figures 1-3 comprises two fabricgripping rollers and '2 which are rotatably mounted side by sidei'n amay be com'monto 5 both rollers andinclud'e a common driving part Thepresent invention relates to fabric dra'wof one form of" such ,7

Figure 1, showing the ends of the fabric gripping,

wheel 5 is arranged to mesh with a pinion l0 2 which is in turn adaptedto be driven from the main shaft of the machine (not shown). The

pinion I0 is secured to a shaft I I the lower end of which is rotatablymounted in a bearing I2 formed in the support 6. The said support is, ofcourse, rigidly secured to the frame of the machine. The gear wheel 5has formed therein a central hole or opening 5a through which the fabricpasses as it is drawn off from the needles. With the exception of theirend portionswhic h areplain-the rollers l and 2 are longitudinallyfluted, grooved or otherwise formed in any suitable conventional mannerto enhance the gripping effect thereof. The plain end portions of theroller I are fitted in circular holes in the brackets 3 and 4, whereasthe corresponding portions of the companion roller 2 project into andare supported within elongated openings l3 in said brackets (see Figure2). Irrespective of rotary movement the roller 2 is therefore enabled tomove bodily in relation to the roller I suchwise as to permit ofappreciable separation of the rollers to allow for differences in thethickness of the fabric produced on the machine. Normally the rollersare pressed firmly together by means of two spring infiuenced levers I4which are disposed one at each end of the movable roller 2"and pivotallymounted as indicated at I5 within appropriately recessed or slottedportions of thebearing' end caps 1 and 8. Each lever I4 is controlled bya tension spring l6 and is furnished at its inner side with a smallpresser roller I1 arranged to act upon the adjacent plain 1 end portionof the roller 2 for the purpose of urging the latter up to the companionroller I. The brackets 3 and'4 are slotted at I8 toreceive the presserrollers I1 and also to permit of required movements of the levers I4,that is to say against the spring action upon separation of the fabricgripping rollers and vice versa. The springs I6 are accommodated Withinlongitudinal grooves I9 formed in the bearing end caps 1 and 8, one endof each spring being connected to the upper extremity of thecorresponding lever I4 while the opposite end is anchored to a fixedhook 20. 'By reason of this construction the roller 2 is yieldablymounted.

It will be noted-that the gripping rollers I and 2 are entirely separatein so far as they are not geared together. Furthermore, in accordancewith the essential feature of the present invention, the two'rollers aredriven independently in the'manner and by-the means now to be described.

The extreme ends of each fabric gripping roller are formed with ratchetteeth 2I.' That is to say,

there is a similar circular series of such teeth I at each end of eachroller. The form of the teeth is shown more clearly at the left-handside of Figure 3, wherein it will be seen that said teeth are font in anaxial direction asdistinct from being formed or appliedcir'cumferentially'. A pawl 22 mounted upon a cam actuated and spring(or equivalently) controlled slide 23 is provided at each end of themechanism for co-operation with the ratchet teeth 2| at that end. Thepawls are common to both rollers in which respect it will be observedthat each pawl is disposed substantially centrally between the rollersand has an operative extremity 22a of such width as to extend over onetooth on each roller. This width is indicated at B in Figure 2 and issufiicient to maintain each pawl in engagement with the appropriateratchet teeth even in the event of the rollers I and 2 being separatedto an obnormal extent. By effecting reciprocation of one of the pawls 22the rollers will be simultaneously racked around in opposite directions,i. e. in the directions indicated by the arrows C in Figure 2. Thearrangement is such, however, that while one of the pawls is making anoperative stroke the other is on the return or idle stroke, as will behereinafter more fully described, so that the gripping rollers are neverallowed to rest, i. e. they are driven practically continuouslywhen themachine is working. The body portion of each pawl 22 is accommodatedwithin a bifurcated or forked portion23a of the corresponding slide 23and is mounted so as to be capable of turning about a pivot pin 24carried by the said slide. The pawl is yieldingly held in contact withthe teeth 2I and thereby controlled by a spring 25 appropriatelyarranged. The slide 23 is mounted for movement vertically within agroove 26 formed in thebearing end cap. The opposite sides of thisgroove afford lateral guidance for theslide. At its lower end the slide23 is provided with a cam roll 21-arranged for contact with the upperedge of -,a circular flanged portion 6a of the support 6. This flangedportion is appropriately formed with a rise so as to constitute a camring which is presented to the roll 21 during bodily rotation of thedrawing-off mechanism.v A compression spring 28 is employed to controlthe slide 23. This spring is vertically disposed and arranged in themanner depicted between the top of a suitably recessed portion of thebearingend cap and an extension 23b at the foot of the slide; Pins orpegs 29 and 30 constrain the spring 28 to maintain its correct positionaxially. The bearing end cap is recessed at its lower end in the regionof the cam roll 21, asjindicated at 3|, topermit of required' movementsof the slide. The construction is consequently such that during eachrevolution of the mechanism, thecam roll 21 is acted upon by theaforesaid cam ring to effect an upward movement of the slide.23 againstthe action of the spring 28 and thereby impart'an idle stroke to thepawl 22 which latter thereupon first yields outwardly and then snaps"back'into driving engagement with the appropriate ratchet teeth.Immediately thereafter-the oam roll 21 will ride down the rise on thecam ring and accordingly permit the slide to move; downagain under thereaction of the spring 28, therebyimparting an operative stroke to thepawl 22 and driving both gripping rollers simultaneously. A completereciprocation of the slide and hence also rotation of the rollers I and2 to the-extent of one step will therefore be effected once per completerevolution of the mechanism. As will be understood, the pawl and ratchetmechanism at each end of the rollers is of precisely similarconstruction but since these duplicate sets of mechanism operatealternately with each other, then the rollers will, of course, becontinuously driven, as already alluded to. It will be appreciated thatin this example spring action is relied on to impart operative strokesto the pawls 22.

The construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is in many respectssimilar to that last described, but differs in two importantparticulars, viz. in that pawl and ratchet mechanism is provided at oneend only of the gripping rollers I and 2 so that the latter areintermittently rotated instead of being continuously driven, and in thatthe operative strokes of the pawl or clawker are efiected in a positivemanner by cam action, said pawl or clawker being merely returned byspring means.

Here again, the extreme ends of each fabric gripping roller are formedwith axially extending ratchet teeth 2|, the teeth at one end of themechanism co-operating with a cam-operated clawker 32, common to bothrollers, while those at the opposite end are adapted for co-operationwith suitably spring-influenced back stop pawls or detents 33 (Figure5). In this case, however, the pitch of the ratchet teeth 2| is twicethat of the teeth 2| in the first described example. This, of course, isto ensure that the gripping rollers although intermittently actuatedshall be driven at the same rate as the continuously driven rollers. Theclawker 32 is loosely mounted between guides or in a groove formed on orin the end cap 1 of the bracket 3 suchwise as to be capable not only ofsliding up and down, but also of pivoting or canting forwards andbackwards about the point 34 (see Figure 5). The clawker, moreover, isdisposed more or less centra ly between the rollers and 2 and has at itsupper end a laterally spread operative extremity 32a of such width as toextend well over one ratchet tooth 2| on each roller even in the eventof the rollers being separated abnormally. A tension spring 35, providedto control the clawker, is accommodated within a groove 36 formed in theend cap I and is anchored at one end to a peg 31 which is screwed intothe said cap and at the other end to a projection 38 on the clawker.This spring functions not only to impart idle or return strokes to theclawker at appropriate times but also serves normally to tilt the latterforwards to urge its upper operative extremity 32a into engagement withthe ratchet teeth. At its lower end the clawker is formed with aprotuberant foot portion 32b upon which rests one end of a cam-actuatedlever 39. This lever is pivoted at #6 upon the outside of the bearingbracket 3 and the end 39a of said lever resting upon the foot portion32b is conveniently of suitably rounded or bulbous formation as shown inFigure 4. The opposite end of the lever 39 is furnished with a cam roll4! arranged for contact with the upper edge of the aforesaid circularcam ring constituted by the flange 6a. The arrangement is therefore suchthat at each revo1ution of the drawing-off mechanism, the cam roll 4| isacted upon by the rise on the cam ring, whereupon the lever 39 is turnedabout its pivot 40 so that its rounded or bulbous end 39a pressesdownwardly upon the foot portion 32a to eflect depression of the clawker32 against the action of the spring 35. In this way the clawker makes anoperative stroke, thereby pulling round the rollers and 2 simultaneouslyin opposite directions to the extent of one step, immediately afterwhich the back stop pawls or detents 33 snap into position to hold therollers in position preparatory to being racked round again at the nextoperative stroke of the clawker. Meanwhile, the

cam roll 4| rides down the rise on the cam ring and thereby permits theclawker to be pulled up again under the action of the tension spring 35.During its return or idle stroke the said clawker first pivots or cantsbackwards and thereafter snaps back into driving engagement with theappropriate ratchet teeth under the control of the spring 35.

Figures 6 and '7 show means whereby the rate at which the rollers and 2are driven can. be varied. The said means, which are suitable for use inconjunction with' either of the forms of driving mechanism hereinspecifically disclosed, include a ring 42 (or equivalent) which iscarried pivotally by fixed brackets 43 attached to the support 6. Inthis connection the ring is bossed at each side as indicated at 42a forreception of a pivot pin 44 as shown more clearly in Figure 6. The ring42, moreover, constitutes a race and has a fiat upper side 42b uponwhich the aforementioned cam rolls 2'!v or 4| (as the case may be) aresupported. In this respect, therefore, the ring 42 takes the place ofthe flanged portion 6a of the support 6 in the two previous examples.The ring 42 is adjustable, as indicated in dotand-dash lines in Figure7. It will be-understood that when said ring is in the horizontal, i. e.zero, position represented in the dot-anddash lines no verticalcomponent of movement will be imparted to the cam rolls when thedrawing-off mechanism is revolved bodily; consequent-' ly the pawl andratchet gearing will remain quiescent with the result that the grippingrollers and 2 will not be driven. When, however, the ring 42 isinclined, e. g. adjusted to the position represented by full lines inFigure 7, the pawl and ratchet gearing will be operated to drive thegripping rollers in the manner required. Since the ring 42 is adjustable.to any inclination within a certain desired range, the rate at whichthe rollers I and 2 are driven and consequently the feed imparted to thefabric per revolution of the machine can be varied between desiredlimits. The cam ring 42 may be adjustable either automatically or byhand to effect the required variation in speed. For example, in aknitting machine wherein provision is made for automatically adjustingthe stitch cam or cams to stiffen or slacken the fabric, variation inthe speed of the drawing-off mechanism may be effected automaticallywith the adjustment of the stitch cam or cams, e. g. by connections fromthe existing controlling mechanism of the machine. This is the intentionwith the arrangement depicted in Figures 6 and 7 wherein it will be seenthat the ring 42 is formed with spaced apertured lugs 45 between whichcan beconnected a rod or link (not shown) forming part of connectionsfrom such controlling mechanism. When hand operable or ing adjustmentofthe ring 42, such adjustments may be made at the will and discretionof the operative in charge of the machine.

Ratchet mechanism such as that described with reference to Figures 1-3may, if desired, be provided at one end only of the gripping rollers and2 for imparting intermittent instead of continuous motion to the latterduring the production of fabric. Again, duplicate sets of ratchetmechanism similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be arrangedrespectively at opposite ends of the rollers and adapted to be operatedalternately with each other so as to impart continuous motion to saidrollers. That is to say,

equivalent means are provided for effect- I -fabric and continue 4irrespectively as towhether the gripping rollers are to havecontinuous-or intermittent motion imparted to them, either of the formsof ratchet mechanism herein specifically described-suitably arranged-maybe adopted. a

The present invention is applicable primarily to fabric drawing-offmechanism for circular hosiery knitting machines of the latch or beardedneedle type, plain or rib, in which the said mechanism revolves bodilyin the case of a machine of the rotary cylinder type, and remainsstationary while the rollers are rotated in the case of a machine of thestationary cylinder type, the actuating cam remaining stationary orrevolving accordingly.

The invention is not to be regarded as limited to hosiery knittingmachines as it may be applied to fabric drawing-off mechanism ofmachines of larger sizes and, if desired, fiat and like knittingmachines'by suitable adaptation of the roller operating means.

It will be understood that an independent drive, such for example aspawl and ratchet mechanism of the character last described, may beprovided at each end of each of the rollers for the purpose ofequalizing the pressure on the rollers when the latter are being drivenor racked round.

In any event, if for any reason the thickness of the fabric to be dealtwith by the drawingofi mechanism varies, one or each of the rollers,according to whether one or each is yieldingly mounted, will adaptitself to the varying conditions without adversely affecting the drivingof the mechanism.

What we claim then is:

l. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers between whichfabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mounted so thatsaid rollers are normally pressed together but permitted to separate asand when required, said rollers being entirely separate incontra-distinction to being geared together, and each rollerbeingprovided at each end withratchet teeth, a feed pawl which is formed andarranged for co-operation with the the ratchet teeth of both rollers atone end of the latter, another feed pawl which is similarly formed andarranged for co-operation with the ratchet teeth of both rollers at theopposite end thereof, and means for operating said feed pawls wherebythe rollers are driven independently in opposite directions and continueto function normally even in the event of them being forced apartabnormally.

2. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers between whichfabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mounted so thatsaid rollers are normally pressed together but permitted to separate asand when required, said rollers being entirely separate incontra-distinction to being geared together, and each roller beingprovided at each end with ratchet teeth, a feed pawl which is formed andarranged for co-operation with the ratchet teeth of both rollers at oneend of the latter, another feed pawl which is similarly formed andarranged for co-operation with the ratchet teeth of both rollers at theopposite end thereof, and means for operating said feed pawlsalternately with each other whereby the rollers are driven independentlyduring the production of to function normally even in the event of thembeing forced apart abnormally.

3. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers between whichfabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mounted so thatsaid rollers are normally pressed together but permitted to separate asand when required, said rollers being entirely separate incontra-distinction to being geared together and each roller beingprovided at each end with ratchet teeth, a clawker which is formed andarranged for co-operation with the ratchet teeth of both rollers at oneend of the latter, means for operating said clawker whereby the rollersare driven independently in an intermittent manner during the productionof fabric and continue to function normally even in the event of thembeing forced apart abnormally, and a back stop pawl for co-operationwith the ratchet teeth at the end of the rollers remote from. theclawker to prevent backward rotation of said rollers.

4. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers between whichfabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mounted so thatsaid rollers are normally pressed together but permitted to separate asand when required, said'rollers being entirely separate incontra-distinction to being geared together and each roller beingprovided at each end with ratchet teeth, a feed pawl which is formed andarranged to operate with a pulling action upon the ratchet teeth of bothrollers at one end of the latter, another feed pawl which is similarlyformed and arranged to operate with a pulling action upon the ratchetteeth of both rollers at the opposite end thereof and means foractuating said feed pawls alternately with each other whereby therollers are simultaneously and independently rotated in oppositedirections during the production of fabricand continue to functionnormally even in the event of them being forced apart abnormally.

5. Fabric drawing-off mechanism according .to claim 3, wherein theclawker acts upon the appropriate ratchet teeth with a pulling action.6. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in

combination, a pair of rollers between which fabric is gripped and atleast one of which is yieldably mounted so that said rollers arenormally pressed together but permitted to separate as and whenrequired, said rollers being entirely separate in contra-distinction tobeing geared together and each roller being provided at each end withratchet teeth, a springinfluenced feed pawl which is formed and arrangedfor co-operation with the ratchet teeth of both rollers at one end ofthe latter, spring means arranged to effect the operative strokes ofsaid feed pawl at appropriate times, another spring-influencedfeedpawlwhich is similarly formed and arranged for co-operation with the ratchetteeth of both rollers at the opposite end thereof, furtherspring meansarranged to effect the operative strokes of the last mentioned feedpawl, and cam means for imparting the idle strokes to the feed pawlsalternately with each other against the action of the associated springmeans, the arrangement being such that. the gripping rollers aresimultaneously driven independently in opposite directions during theproduction of fabric and continue to function normally even in the eventof them being forced apart abnormally. e

'7. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers between whichfabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mountedso thatsaid rollers are normally pressed together but permitted to separate asand when required, said rollers being entirely separate incontra-distinction to being geared together and each roller beingprovided at each end with ratchet teeth, a clawker which is so formedand arranged for canting movement backwards and forwards as to enable itto cooperate with the ratchet teeth of both rollers at one end of thelatter, spring means for controlling said clawker and effecting theidlestrokes of the latter at appropriate times, cam-actuated means forimparting the operative strokes to the clawker against the action ofsaid spring means, the arrangement being such that the gripping rollersare driven'independently in an intermittent manner during the productionof fabric and continue to function normally even in the event of thembeing forced apart abnormally, and a back stop pawl for co-operationwith the ratchet teeth at the end of the rollers remote from the clawkerto prevent backward rotation of said rollers.

8. Mechanism for drawing-ofi fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers between whichfabricis gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mounted so thatsaid rollers are normally pressed together but permitted to separate asand when required, said rollers being entirely separate incontra-distinction to being geared together and each roller beingprovided at each end with ratchet teeth which extend in an axialdirection with respect to the rollers, a feed pawl which is arranged forco-operationwith the ratchet teeth of both rollers at oneend of thelatter, the operative extremity of said pawl being of such width as tobe capable of engaging one tooth on each roller even in the event of therollers being forced apart abnormally, another feed pawl which issimilarly formed and arranged for co-operation with the ratchet teeth ofboth rollers at the opposite end thereof, and means for operating saidfeed pawls alternately with each other so that the rollers areindependently rotated simultaneously in opposite directions during theproduction of fabric and continue to function normally even in the eventof being forced apart abnormally as aforesaid.

9. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers between whichfabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mounted so thatsaid rollers are normally pressed together but permitted to separatetogether and each roller being provided at each end with ratchet teethwhich extend in an axial direction with respect to the rollers, aclawker which is arranged for co-operation with the ratchet teeth ofboth rollers at one end of the latter, the operative extremity of saidclawker being of such width as to be capable of engaging one tooth oneach roller even in the event of the rollers being forced apartabnormally, means for actuating the clawker so that the gripping rollersare independently rotated in opposite directions step by step during theproduction of fabric and 3 continue to function normally even in theevent of being forced apart abnormally asaforesaid, and .a back stoppawl for co-operation with the ratchet teeth at the end of the rollersremote from the clawker to prevent backward rotation of said rollers. 1

10. Mechanism fordrawing-off fabric as it is produced on aknittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a roller, 7 having therein fixedbearings in which said roller is mounted, a'companion roller which isyieldably mounted in said brackets, the two rollers being therebyadapted togrip' the fabric between them and being normally pressedtogether but permitted to separate as-and whenrequired, the rollers alsobeing entirely separate incontradistinction to being geared together buteach roller having at each end thereof ratchet teeth which extend in anaxial direction with respect to said rollers, two pivotedspring-influenced feed pawls which are formed and arranged for 00operation with the ratchet teeth ofboth rollers at respectively oppositeends of the latter, slidable parts which are associated with the rollersupporting brackets and serve to carry the feed pawls, springs forcontrolling said slidable parts, and cam means for imparting movement tosaid slidable parts and hence also 'to-the feed pawls in one directionagainst the action of the springs at appropriate times, movement of saidparts and pawls in the reverse direction being eifected by the springs,the construction and arrangement being such that the gripping rollersare independently driven simultaneously in'opposite directions duringthe production of fabric and'continue to function normally eveni'n theevent of them being forcedapart abnormally;

ll. Mechanism for roller supporting bracket at one end of the rollers,

function normally even in the event of them being forced apartabnormally, and elements for cooperation with the ratchet teeth at theend of the rollers remote from the clawker to prevent backward rotationof said rollers.

12. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is producedon a knittingmachine, comprising in combination, a pair of separate rollers betweenroller supporting brackets which fabric is gripped and at least one ofwhich is yieldably mounted so that said rollers are normally pressedtogether but permitted to separate as and when required, each rollerbeing provided at at least one end with ratchet teeth, a pawl which iscommon to both rollers and arranged for cooperation with the ratchetteeth at the said end of the rollers, the operative end of said pawlbeing of such formation as to be capable of engaging one tooth on eachroller even in the event of the rollers being forced apart abnormally,and means for operating said pawl so that the rollers are independentlyrotated simultaneously in opposite directions during the production offabric and continue to function normally even when forced apart asaforesaid.

l3. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of separate rollers betweenwhich fabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mountedso that said rollers are normally pressed together but permitted toseparate as and when required, each roller being provided at at leastone end with ratchetteeth, a pawl which is common to both rollers andarranged for cooperation with the ratchet teeth at the said end of therollers, the operative end of said pawl being of such formation as to becapable of engaging one tooth on each roller even in the event of therollers being forced apart abnormally, means for operating said pawl sothat the rollers are independently rotated simultaneously in oppositedirections during the production of fabric and continue to functionnormally even when forced apart as aforesaid, and means whereby the rateat which the gripping rollers are driven can be varied withinpredetermined limits, for the purposes herein specified.

l4. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination, a pair of separate rollers betweenwhich fabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mountedso that said rollers are normally pressed together but permitted toseparate as and when required, each roller being provided at at leastone end with ratchet teeth, a pawl which is common to both rollers andarranged for cooperation with the ratchet teeth at the said end of therollers, the operative end of said pawl being of such formation as to becapable of engaging one tooth on each roller even in the event of therollers being forced apart abnormally, means for operating said pawl sothat the rollers are independently rotated simultaneously in oppositedirections during the production of fabric and continue to functionnormally even when forced apart as aforesaid, a cam ring for effectingactuation of said ratchet gearing, and means whereby said cam ring canbe adjusted to any desired extent between a zero position and apredetermined maximum position so that the rate at which the rollers aredriven can be varied within limits, for the purposes herein specified.

15. Mechanism for drawing-off fabric as it is produced on a knittingmachine, comprising, in combination a pair of separate rollers betweenwhich fabric is gripped and at least one of which is yieldably mountedso that said rollers are normally pressed together but permitted toseparate as and when required, each roller being provided at at leastone end with ratchet teeth, a pawl which is common to both rollers andarranged for cooperation with the ratchet teeth at the said end of therollers, the operative end of said pawl being of such formation as to becapable of engaging one tooth on each roller even in the event of therollers being forced apart abnormally, means for operating said pawl sothat the rollers are independently rotated simultaneously in oppositedirections during the production of fabric and continue to functionnormally even when forced apart as aforesaid, and a cam ring foreffecting actuation of said ratchet gearing, there being relativerotation between the cam ring and the gearing, and the inclination ofsaid ring being adjustable so that the rate at which the rollers aredriven can be varied within limits, for the purposes herein specified.

THOMAS CHARLES BROMLEY. ARTHUR SHORTLAND.

